BIZARRE BIKERNET BOOK REVIEW–Tinker Tales Untold:
This book falls into The Most Weird Books I Have Ever Read Category. Not that it is a bad list to be on. I read a lot of books and would place it in its own genre of mystical biker lore. Tinker is the main character throughout Tinker Tales Untold from author Allan Lowson. Allan writes fiction monthly for the most-read custom bike magazine in England, Back Street Heroes. It's one of the favorite bike mags around the Bikernet Headquarters.
Tinker is a well rounded character. He rides antique bikes like the Devil is after him with Death close behind, because they are.
He has a house ghost that cleans up after him. He can trick an officer of the law into letting him off Scot free while riding under the influence. He smokes da herb with the herb Mary-Jane herself and parties in the netherworld when he wants.
Tinker judges a bike show and falls in with the furies and has a run in with the Knights Templar. And you thought you had it rough.
All in all this collection of tales is entertaining and well worth a read. You can contact the author directly for a copy at lowson@dccnet.com , $17 each including postage or $32 for both Tinker Tales and Tinker Tales Untold. The author will include a personalized message on the flyleaf.
Copyright 2009 by Allan Lowson
Illustrations by Bradley Coffey
ISBN: 978-1-4415-8446-5
You can order any book with an ISBN number from any book store on the planet. Just take the number, the title, and the author's name to the store. You're good to go.
Bikers are Animals: A Children’s Book On Motorcycling by Paul Jamiol
When this book arrived at the office/ command center here in northern Illinois at the end of a harsh winter I was happy to lend an eye and review it for Bikernet.com.
It’s a quick read for an old pro like me so I sought out an expert on children’s literature who is often found in my basement at the end of one video game controller or another. After announcing my presence through the usual methods of throat clearing dropping things on the floor and jiggling the light switch off and on I got the attention of my seven year old grandson BK. He promptly yelled “Turn the power back on! Right now!!”
Laughing out loud at his authoritative manner I told him “Can it! If you ever want to play that wiibox360 atari thingy again you will do what I say for 5 minutes.” So, after I sat on his legs and showed him this book he had this to say, “It’s for little kids you idiot and the motorcycles don’t look real.”
“I know they don’t look real. It’s a coloring book. Would you color these bikes, just for fun?’ I asked.
“No. I can draw just as good as those.” He replied.
At a loss as to who to try this out on next I brainstormed with a can of cold brew and decided to ask my fellow riders. Grabbing a box of crayons I turned on the power to the basement, ran out the door to the garage fired up the Road King and went to the bar.After the usual greetings and groans I settled in by handing out copies of the illustrations in the back of the book (as recommended by the author) to all those present and dumped the crayons out for all to share.
After a couple of rounds and some lively banter from my bro’s we compared our artwork.
“Ha,” Wayne laughed at Gars artwork, “Yours looks like a rhino on a BossHoss.”
“Oh Yeah? Yours looks like an elephant on a bagger.” said Garr.
Lance chimed in saying “Mine looks like a gorilla on a Fat Boy!”
“You idiots!” yelled Tracy. Turning the lights up our barmaid pointed out the fact that we were coloring animals riding motorcycles. “I ought to shut off all of you fools. Sheesh. Don’t make me hit you!”
The guys all blinked in the fresh light and began to mutter among themselves “Kevin, what the hell are you bringing in here now? Coloring books?”
And “I thought that guys head looked like a dog's head.” Or “That Howlena chick looked cute ‘til I figured it was a wolf, hmm still don’t look too bad though.”
I took this was my exit cue. I grabbed my crayons and coloring book and ran for my scooter and headed home.
Bikers are Animals is an apt description. The illustrations are cute and the text explains the different bikes on a rug rats to Kindergartens level. Young bikers to be should find this an enjoyable read.
Bikers are Animals: A Children’s Book On Motorcycling
by Paul Jamiol
Dog Ear Publishing
www.dogearpublishing.net
ISBN 978-160844-232-4
